Writing instrument



R. w. RANDOLPH 2,428,854

WRITING INSTRUMENT Filed oct. 1, 1945 2 sheets-sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. imm/0 jw 75% wim fg/s NNN ww @www s QA w qq. NN. NN WN NN 4 f Oct. 14, 1947.

R.' w.'fRA NDo| PH 2,428,854

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' wiIfTiNGj-.NSVTRUMET {File-d otlvl, 1945 BY@ czzz mw, l NV/ AMW/5 @www MN NN uN 3 position of Fig. 1 to the projected position of Fig. 5.

It is to be observed that latch I1, being pivotally mounted on sleeve I5, does not move forward and back with the plunger but instead remains stationary, except that it rotates in step-by-step fashion, as will be explained later, in response to successive longitudinal movements of the plunger.

Latch member Il is a small steel block or bar of rectangular cross-section, see Fig. 3, having two parallel sides Ila and llb equidistant laterally from the pivotal center. The two ends of latch member Il are, respectively, V-notched as indi-V cated at l'ic and Hd. Plunger I5 is formed to present a guide surface 15e which lies adjacent one of the two parallel sides of the latch member and serves to prevent rotation of said latch member when the same is in the posture illustrated in Fig. 1 and said plunger is in its retracted position as shown in the same figure.

Formed as an integral part of plunger l is a lug IQ having a V-shaped front face the apex 25 of which points toward latch member ll and is somewhat laterally displaced from the center of pivot I8.

Assuming that the mechanism under discussion occupies the posture illustrated in Fig. 1-which may be called the retracted posture-a forward movement of the plunger caused by depressing pushbutton a will result in a forward movement of lug I9 and at the same time a forward movement of guide surface E50 as illustrated in Fig, 6. The nose of lug I9 strikes latch member I1 off center and rotates the later counterclockwise to the position exhibited in Fig. 6. Due to V-notch lld lug ,I9 can move no farther in the forward direction, but with the latch member rotated to the posture shown in Fig. 6 the latter is in a position to be engaged by shoulder 2l upon the return movement of the plunger which results from release of pushbutton |5a. Upon said return movement of the plunger shoulder 2i seats itself in notch llc as illustrated in Fig. 5 and the plunger is thus prevented by the latch member from returning to the fully retracted position of Fig. l.. The plunger is thus held in a position, Fig. 5, which is partially retracted from its most forward position and in which it holds the writing point of the instrument in a projected position far enough out of the holder I to be exposed for writing.

As will be apparent from inspection of Fig. 5 a successive forward movement of the plunger caused by depressing the pushbutton will cause shoulder 2l to disengage the latch member and clear the same while at the same time the nose of lug E9 will engage and further rotate latch member Il as depicted in Fig. 7. Subsequent release of the pushbutton will cause shoulder 2i to engage and further rotate latch member H and restore it to the posture in which it is illustrated in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that latch member I1 has two principal resting postures. One of these, which may, for convenience, be identiiied as the first resting posture is illustrated in Fig. 1. The other, which may be identified as the second resting posture, is illustrated in Fig. 5. The postures in lwhich the latch member is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 are merely intermediate postures which in normal operation it occupies but momentarily.

The forward end of sleeve I6 is threaded into cap member 6 and its back end abuts a shoulder 22 formed in the cap member. Threaded intothe back end of cap member 6 is a bushing 23 which provides a bearing for pushbutton l5a and at the same time provides a shoulder 2d which functions as a stop to limit the backward movement of the plunger. A pocket clip 25 is secured in place by a head flange on bushing 23.

As will be apparent, the construction of this writing instrument is such that all the parts thereof are both sturdy and economical to manufacture, and the assembling operation is exceedingly simple.

Manifestly the structure illustrated represents only one of many possible embodiments within the scope and purview of the present invention.

I claim:

l. In a writing instrument, a hollow elongate holder, an actuated element mounted within and reciprocable lengthwise of said holder, said actuated element having a writing point at its front end, said holder having a front opening through which said writing point is propellable out of and alternately retractable into said holder in response to forward and back movements, respectively, of said actuated element, a plunger mounted within the back end portion of said holder and having a pushbutton normally projecting outwardly from the back end of the holder, said plunger being reciprccable lengthwise of said holder, spring means continuously urging said actuated element toward its retracted position, means limiting the backward movement of said plunger, and a latch having two alternate postures, said latch being positioned in one of its said postures to engage said plunger and restrain said actuated element against retraction, and ineffective in its alternate posture to preventI retraction of said actuated element, said plunger being operative upon each forward movement to propel said actuated element forwardly and further operative during each forward movement to switch said latch from the posture it happensl to be assuming to its alternate posture.

2. In a writing instrument, a holder comprising a hollow elongate barrel and a hollow elongatev cap member detachably connected to the back end Vof said barrel and forming an extension thereof, an actuated element mounted within and reciprocable lengthwise of said barrel, said actuated element being withdrawable as a unit from the back end of said barrel when said cap member is detached and having a writing point at its front end, said barrel having a front opening through which said writing point is propellale out of and alternately retractable into said barrel in response to forward and back movements, respectively, of said actuated element, a plunger mounted within said cap member and having a pushbutton normally projecting outwardly from the back end of said cap member, said plunger being reciprocable lengthwise of said holder, spring means continuously urging said actuated element toward its retracted position, means limiting the backward movement of said plunger, and a latch within said cap member having two alternate postures, said latch being effective in one of its said postures to restrain said plunger against full retraction and ineffective in its alternate posture to prevent full retraction of said plunger, said plunger being operative upon each forward movement to propel said actuated element forwardly and further operative during each forward movement to switch said latch from the posture it then happens to be assuming to its alternate posture, said cap member, plunger and latch Yforming a self-contained megas-r sun-it which isreniovableas a'wholelfromsaid -f-barrl. f l 53.' In a writing '-instruin'ent, `a` hollow l'elongate holden-*1an factuatedf element mounted'within and "reciprocable lengthwise o-f--said holder, l-said Yiactuated element' having-a' lwritingrpointiat'yitsffr-ont end, saidholde'r having a front-opening through which said writing f point is alternately propella- 'ble out of and'retractable into vsaid'holder-'infre-V sponse to forwardfandback'- movements, respectively, of said actuated'lement, a plunger-frnour'itlied within *the back endportion of ysaidl'io'ld`erarid having a pushbutton normally projecting 'o'utwardly lfrom the back end fof the holder,- said fplunger being reciprocable -lengthwise "of `I`said holder, spring means ycontinuously'urging `vsaid `actuated element toward its vretracted position, means limitingfthe'bac'kward movement of said plunger, and a latch rotatable about a'relatively "fixed pivot in Vsaid-casingand` having twoalt'ernate resting postures of rotation, said latchbeing yve'ffectivein one of its two resting postures to block said actuated element against restoration to -its fully retracted position following a forward movement of saidactuated element Vproduced byisaid v .plunger and ineffective in its alternate `resting vposture `to .block retraction of said actuated ele- `ment, said plunger beingoperative Ain response `to each consecutive forward `movement Ythereof to propel said actuated element forwardly against the opposition of` said spring means and Lfurther operative in response to leach such forward movement to rotate said latchfromthe'resting posture it then happens to be assuming'to the alternate Y resting posture.

4. In a writing'instrument, 'a 'hollowelon'gate 'holder having alongitudinalaxis, an actuated element mounted within and reciprocable lengthwise of said holder, Ysaid actuated velement havling a writing point atits front end, saidholder having afront opening through which said-writing point 'is alternately propellable out vof and rretractable intosaid Aholder in response to forward and .back movements, respectively, of said actuated element, ajplunger mounted Within the back portion of `said holder Vand having apushbutton vprojecting outwardly from the back 'end of said holder, said plunger being reciprocable lengthwise of said holder and operative "to propel said actuated element forwardl/a centrally pivoted latch member having two parallel sides and two opposite V-notched lends, said latch member being rotatable about lits pivot, said .plunger being movable lengthwise Yof thepholder relatively to said ,f latch member, said Vplunger having va guide surfaceextending parallel to said longitudinal axis, which guide surface iseifective in cooperation, one at a time, with the two'a'fore- -mentioned parallel sides of saidlatch `member Vto hold said latch member in a first *posture wherein its said parallel sides areparallelto'said longitudinal axis when said plungeris in its ful-ly retracted position, said ,plunger 'having 'a `V- shaped lug the apex 'of which points forwardly toward said -latch member, said apex being laterally displaced relatively to said 'latch tpivot,

said lug being operative in response toca first forv ward movement of said plunger to engage and rotate said latch member out of said rst posture into a second predetermined posture wherein Y said latch member is operative to .prevent full retraction of said plun'ger and actuated element, vsaid guide surface 'being'proportioned to clear movement of the plunger, thus 'enabling said said 'latch member during l-said i'rst-forwa'rd T6 l'latch -memberfto-rotate'Tiro-mfits iirst vposture-to lits second posture, SaidLplunger'having a lshoulder/whichris engageableby one 'of the V-n'otche'd endsof-'sa'id latchr'nember to block full retraction of: said actuatedelmentwhen said latch meml'be'ris'iin-fitssaid'l'second posture, said lugbeing ffoperative furtherto'rotate said 4latch member in response toa second `fr'nrward'movement "of said plunger whereby said 'latch member is restored Yto its `'i'lrs't vriosture and V'said actuated element is allowed' fully o lJr'etract, upon release -of said plungerfollowingsaid second' forward movement.

'-5.5A writing instrument in 'accordance vwith claim 3 yhaving sa 'stationary sleeve mounted I'in 'the back end f'i-'saidliolder l andfunctioning "-asa `Aguide'fforsaidp' tiger, Asaidlatch member being "pivoted'lto'said g ide.

"6. 'A writing 1 instrument in accordance with claim "4 AcliaiacteriZed "in v'that lthe V-notch I"engaged byftheV-shaped lug "cooperates therewith during'the'first forward Amovement of the plunger to definitely *positio'n said latch member rotatively "sothatftle l other V-notch ris properly positione'd tofeng'agey said-shoulder.

v"'7. writing Yinstrument -in accordance with -clai'm' V-char'acterized in that the holder compri-sesa detachable cap member 'forming theba'k "end thereof and in'whi'chare vassembled `said sleeve and y"plunger, said actuated element being '-withdrawable 'fro'in ysaid holder following re- `moval'of-saidap'member. -I8. VIn`"a"ball'-pintwriting instrument, a casing,

`a unit inlud'inganinkcartridge and a ball writing poi'nt mountedin 'said casing for`longitudinal A"shift fmovementjfand means mounted in said casingffor prpellingsaid unit'to projectv said'writing point-'beyond the "for-"ward=i end of said casingfor writing purposes andlfor retractingit within said fcasing which means inclu'desa depressible push buttoninthe 'rear end of said casing'in propel A"engagement withLsaid-unit and adapted on a'first f depression thereof `to propel' said unit to VVits `-pro- `ected position, 'sprin'gfmeans constantly urging rsaid =unit"'to`ward its "retracted position, latching 'means between `said-casing and one of said casing mounted parts for `h'oldirig 'the latter Vin vitsfiro- -jectedposition when it has been moved there by 4"said pushbnttonjandin'eans xedly carried'by and movable Awith said ypush button and operable on ya second depression "of said push button to render -said flatch' means "inactive" and hold it nactive while-said nriitis moved toward its said 4retracted position 'by said spring means.

9. `A ball-point 'writing instrument comprising 'a barrel, a ball-'and-cartridge unit including fan -ink reservoir 'containing alrelatively viscousink, a"-ball`point -writing`element, and'me'ans for feed- -ing ink "from'said Ireservo-ir to said kwriting `element, said un'it'beingmounted in said barrel for movement between a forward propelled position wherein said writing element projects from the forwa'r'd end f said bai-rel and is exposed for writing Yarid-"af'rearward `'retracted position wherein l'said writing element is Vconcealed within vsaid barrel, means resiliently urging said ball-andfcartridge unit Yinto re'tracted'position means including aldepressiblepnsh member 'for-,propelling lsaid vball-"andecartridge unit "upon a first depres- 'sion `of said push 'member and movable simultaneously with 'saidball-and-cartridge unit be- Iktvvq'ee'n *propelled and retracted positions of said' ball-anc-caitidge unit, means for releasably neming said banana-'cartridge una in propelled j-p'ositionand -re'leasing Tmeans operative upon la further tdepression -of said vpush member for rendering said holding means inactive and maintaining said holding means inactive during the simultaneous movement of said ball-and-cartridge unit and said push member toward said retracted position, said releasing means being engageable with said holding means upon a depression of said push member when said holding means is in inactive position, to return said holding means to active position.

10. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel, a ball-and-cartridge unit including an ink reservoir containing a relatively viscous ink, a ball-point writing element, and means for feeding ink from said reservoir to said writing element, said unit being mounted in said barrel for movement between a forward propelled position wherein said writing element projects from the forward end of said barrel and is exposed for writing and a rearward retracted position wherein said writing element is concealed within said barrel, means for resiliently urging said balland-cartridge unit into retracted position, means including a depressible push member for propelling said ball-and-cartridge unit upon a first depression of said push member and for controlling return of said ball-and-cartridge unit to retracted position, means for releasably holding said ball-and-cartridge unit in propelled position, and releasing means active upon a further depression of said push member for rendering said holding means inactive and maintaining said holding means inactive as said ball-and-cartridge unit is moved toward retracted position by said urging means, said releasing means being engageable with said holding means upon a depression of said push member when said holding means is in inactive position, to return said holding means to active position.

l1. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel open at its opposite ends, apen unit slidably mounted in said barrel and having a ball writing point at its forward end adapted to be Vpropelled and retracted through the forward end of the barrel, spring means constantly urging said unit toward a retracted position wherein said writing point is concealed within the barrel, a push member slidably mounted in the barrel in drive engagement with the inner end of said unit and having an exposed push element projecting through the opening in the rear end of the barrel, latch means for latching and holding said unit in a propelled position, and holding means carried by said push member and engageable with said latch means upon a first depression of said push member for setting said v latch means to hold said unit in its propelled position and for releasing said latch means upon a second depression of said push member to permit said spring means to move said unit to its retracted position.

l2. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel, a ball-and-cartridge unit including an ink reservoir containing a relatively viscous ink, a ball-point writing element, and means for feeding ink from said reservoir to said writing ele-` ment, means mounting said unit in said barrel for movement between a forward propelled position wherein said writing element projects from the forward end of said barrel and is exposed for writing and a rearward retracted position wherein said writing element is concealed within said barrel, a plunger member operably disposed in said barrel in push relation to said ball-and-cartridge unit and having-a latching shoulder thereon, a push element at the end of said plungerV member and having at least a portion projecting from said barrel, means resiliently urging said ball-and-cartridge unit toward its retracted position, means including a latch in said barrel positioned to engage said latching shoulder for releasably holding said ball-and-cartridge unit in propelled position, a latch-release and setting element xedly carried by said plunger member and movable thereby into engagement with said latch for disengaging said latch from said latching shoulder and releasing said latch for retractive movement of said ball-and-cartridge unit by said resilient means.

13. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel including separable, detachably connected, forward and rearward sections, a unit slidably and removably mounted in said forward barrel section and substantially enclosed thereby, said unit including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point adapted to be propelled and retracted through the forward end of said barrel, and means for feeding ink from said reservoir to said writing point, and an actuating mechanism for propelling and retracting said unit carried by and substantially enclosed in said rearward barrel section, and disposed t0 operatively engage said unit when said barrel sections are assembled, said actuating mechanism being separable from said unit merely upon separating movement of said barrel sections.

14. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel including separable, detachably connected, forward and rearward sections, a unit slidably and removably carried in said barrel and terminating rearwardly adjacent the juncture of said forward and rearward barrel sections, said unit including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point adapted to be propelled and retracted through the forward end of said barrel, and means for feeding ink from said reservoir to said writing point, means yieldingly urging said unit toward retracted position, and manually operable actuating means carried in said rearward barrel section for propelling said unit, holding it in propelled position, and releasing it to permit said retracting means to move it to retracted position, said actuating means being disposed to operatively engage said unit when said barrel sections are assembled, and being separable from said unit merely upon separating movement of said barrel sections.

15. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel including separable, detachably connected, forward and rearward sections, a unit slidably and removably mounted in said barrel and terminating adjacent the rearward end of said forward barrel section, Vsaid unit including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point adapted to be propelled and retracted through the forward end of said barrel, and means for feeding ink from said reservoir to said writing point, spring means constantly urging said unity toward retracted position, a depressible push button, and means carried by said rearward barrel section operable upon a first depression of said push button for propelling said unit and releasably holding it in propelled position and operable upon a second depression of said push button for releasing said unit for movement toward retracted position, said last-named means terminating adjacent the forward end of said rearward barrel section in position to engage in driving relation with said unit when'said barrel sections are assembled and being separable therefrom merely upon separation of Said barrel sections.

16. A ball-point writing instrument comprising a barrel including detachably connected forward and rearward sections, a unit slidably and removably carried in said barrel and terminating adjacent the rearward end of said forward barrel section, said unit including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point adapted to be propelled and retracted through the forward end of said barrel, and means for feeding ink from said reservoir to said writing point, means in said forward barrel section yieldingly urging said unit toward retracted position, depressible propelling means terminating adjacent the forward end of said rearward barrel section in position to be brought into operative driving relation with said unit when said barrel sections are assembled for propelling said unit, means for releasably holding said unit in propelled position, when moved thereto by said propelling means, and means for releasing said holding means to permit said retracting means to return said unit to retracted position, said propelling, holding, and releasing means being carried by said rearward barrel section and separable therewith as a unitary structure from said unit and said forward Ibarrel section merely upon separation of said barrel sections.

17. A ball-point writing instrument. comprising a barrel including detachably connected forward and rearward sections, a unit slidably and removably carried in said barrel and including an ink reservoir, a ball writing point adapted to be propelled and retracted through the forward end of said barrel, and means'for feeding ink from said reservoir to said writing point, retracting means in said forward barrel section yieldingly urging said unit toward retracted position, propelling means including a depressible push button and operable upon a first depression thereof for propelling said unit, latch means for releasably holding said unit in propelled position when moved thereto by said propelling means, and releasing means operable upon a second depression of said push button to release said latch means and permit said retracting means to move said uint to retracted position, said propelling means terminating adjacent the forward end of said rearward barrel section in position to engage said unit in vdriving relation when said barrel sections are assembled and said propelling, holding, and releasing means forming with said rearward barrel section a unitary structure separable from said unit and said forward barrel section merely upon separation of said barrel sections.

ROBERT W. RANDOLPH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the` le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,398,548 Moore Apr. 16,'1946 378,897 Meyers Mar. 6, 1888 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,017 Great Britain 1890 

